Start with the numbers. Albany is required to plan for 1,114 new homes between 2023 and 2031. Of those, 486 are allocated for very-low- and low-income households.
Housing costs are already hitting Albany residents hard. About half of our renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Teachers, young families and seniors should have a better chance of finding a home here.
Albany has a state-certified Housing Element. That's important. But having a compliant plan is not the same thing as getting homes built. So far, only about 9 percent of our lower-income housing target has been permitted.
Verana Hill is a real success. The 62-unit affordable housing community was completed in 2024 through a partnership with nonprofit developer SAHA on City-owned land. We should be proud of it. But one successful project is not enough.
The question for Albany is not whether housing is coming. The state has already answered that. The question is how we handle it: where it goes, what gets built, and how much of it people can actually afford.
Here is where I would start:
Go get the builders. We should not just wait and hope the right projects show up. I would actively reach out to quality developers and nonprofit housing partners and make the case for investing in Albany. In my work, I spend a lot of time bringing people to the table and getting complicated projects moving. I would bring that same approach to housing.
Focus growth where it makes sense. San Pablo Avenue and our commercial corridors are natural places for more housing, close to transit, shops and services. Adding residents there can also bring more customers to local businesses.
Make affordability a priority. Albany needs more than market-rate housing. Verana Hill showed what a strong partnership with a nonprofit builder can accomplish. We should already be looking for the next site and the partners who can help us get another project built.
Make ADUs easier. Accessory dwelling units can be one of the least disruptive ways to add housing. They can give an older resident a way to downsize, help a family house a parent or adult child, or create another rental home. The City should make the rules clear and the process straightforward.
Give people clear answers. If a project follows the rules, the applicant should know what is expected and get a timely decision. Uncertainty and unnecessary delay add costs and make Albany a harder place to build.
I moved to Albany because I wanted to raise my family here. I want the next family, teacher or senior to have a real chance to live here too.
We can add housing without giving up what people love about Albany. But that requires a City Council focused not just on plans, but on getting things done.